Using String Values for Alarms

You can create string values for variables using custom data types (phrases). These phrases are then available from drop-down lists for manual entry in an Autolog display where they can be compared against specifications and used to trigger alarms.

To use string values for variables

  1. Create data types and then create phrases for those data types. When entering specifications, the phrases will be available from drop-down lists. When configuring the variable, the user-created data type will be available in the data type variable property. For more information on creating data types and phrase, see the topic, Creating Custom Data Types.

  2. Select your user-created data type and string specification setting in the variable sheet for the variable(s). (Use the Column/Row Visibility feature to show fields as needed.) The data type determines which phrases are available for the variable and which specifications are available. The string specification setting determines how the alarm will be triggered and controls which variables are available for the alarm template. For more information on the data type variable property and the string specification setting property, see the topic, Variable Property Definitions.

NOTE:  When configuring variables having a Data Types of “String” or a custom Data Type with a string phrase, you need to set the String Specification Setting on the Variables sheet for the variable to evaluate properly in alarms.  Refer to "String Specification Setting" in the "Variable Property Definitions Topic" under "Plant Model."

  1. Enter specifications for the variable(s). The available specifications are determined by the data type you selected in step 2. For more information on entering specifications, see the topic Building a Unit-level Recipe or Production Specification.

  2. Create alarm templates. The variables that are available will depend on the alarm trigger you select and on the variables string specification setting (see step 2). For more information on alarms and creating alarm templates, see the topic Configuring Alarms.

  3. Create the Autolog and Alarm displays. For more information, see the topics, Autolog Display and Alarm View Display.